UNESCO Adds 17 Le Corbusier Buildings to Its Storied Ranks

Le Corbusier was commissioned to design this multifamily residential housing project in Marseille as part of a rebuilding effort after World War II. The Brutalist housing complex, which the architect called La Cité Radieuse (or "The Radiant City") includes 337 units of 23 different types, as well as two shopping streets, a hotel, and a rooftop terrace. Rather than employing the smooth white surfaces that typified many of his buildings, Le Corbusier chose béton-brut  (or raw concrete) for the exterior. By setting the windows in a recessed grid, the building reduces heat gain. The colors indicate different apartment units.